Everything we do creates a ripple effect on the environment. Whether you use a contractor to paint your home or do it yourself, it is important to understand how our actions have an impact on the environment we live in. Thankfully, there are now many eco-friendly products and ways of painting compared to the past. Read on to find out some tips on how to perform environmentally friendly painting.
Latex- or Water-based Paint
When shopping for the type of paint to use, know that latex-based or the water-based paints are more eco-friendly. This is because they release fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to oil-based and lead paints. VOCs are carbon-based emissions and are dangerous to the environment as well as your health. It can result in several health issues when inhaled for a prolonged period of time. Hence, it is recommended to reduce the emission of VOC as much as possible.
Ensure that Waste goes into Hazardous Waste
Proper disposal in environmentally friendly painting is important. Make sure to dispose of all waste related to paint by hazardous waste. Never get rid of them in your regular garbage. You should also remember not to air-dry or soak the paint up so as to get rid of them. If you still have a significant amount of paint left, it is recommended to donate or store it for future use. Store them in an airtight container to prevent any evaporation of water.
Use Reusable Canvas Products Whenever Possible
You may be familiar with the concept of reuse, recycle, and reduce. This tip is all about reusing the canvas products instead of using plastic or paper drop sheets. In many cases, paper and plastic sheets are not reusable. On the other hand, canvas drop sheets can be reused several times, hence eliminating so much unnecessary waste.
Zero-VOC Primer
Just like there are nontoxic paints, there are zero-VOC primers as well. When you use a good primer, you set yourself up for success in your painting job. Painting a primed surface means that the paint will adhere to all the walls and dry evenly. This ensures that the paint will be long lasting and can withstand many years of wear and tear. Hence, using zero-VOC primers will ensure that the paint job is environmentally friendly and causes lesser damage to the environment.
There are many different ways to perform environmentally friendly painting that causes lesser damage on your health. Many of these tips are not as complicated as you think they are. You can start choosing paint options that will benefit our planet today.